Deep well turbine pump having means for removing stretch from pump shafts and for lubricating bottom bearings



J. A. W] NTROATH Feb; 9, 1932. 1,844,831

DEEP WELL TURBINE PUMP HAVING MEANS FOR REMOVING STRETCH FROM PUMP SHAFTS AND FOR LUBRICATING BOTTOM BEARINGS Filed Sept. 7, 1926, -'2 Sheets-Sheet Jan N 4. VV/

/2 BY M IZZ Feb. 9; 1932 Y .J. A. WINTROATH 1,844,831 DEEP WELL TURBINE PUMP HAVI'NG MEANS FOR REMOVING STRETCH FROM PUMP SHAFTS AND FOR LUBRICATING BOTTOM BEARINGS Filed Sept. 7, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Pan 7'//,

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ANGELEB, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNUB 0F ONE-EAL! 1'0 ILLINOIS, AND ONE-HALF TO WINTBOATH PUMPS,

LTD, 03 CALIFORNIA, A. CORPORATION 01 CALIFORNIA p) I p DEEP WELL TURBINE PUK? HAVING MEANS FOR BEIOVING STRETCH. FROM Ytl'ltllilf SHAFI'B AHDFOB LUBRIGATING BOTTOK READINGS Applicationflled September 7, 1826. Serial Ho. 138,879.

This invention relates to turbine pumps and particularly to a novel form of turbine pump which is designed for use in very deep wells. v

'The common form of turbine pump consists of a pump unit which is situated at the lower end of a well and secured to a column pipe which extends therefrom to the surface of the ground. This pump unit has a number of pump bowls which provide runner chambers in which runners are placed.

These runners are secured to a pump shaft 7 which extends from the pump unit at the lower end of the well to a pump head which :5 is situated at the top of the well, the pump shaft extending through the column pipe The pump headis arranged to rotate the pump shaft in order to pump liquid to the surface of the ground; Pumps of this character have been limited to application on shallow wells while reciprocating pumps, the

output of which is comparatively small, have been used on deep wells which in the oil well industry are as much as three or four thousand feet deep.

dhe main reason why the ordinary turbine pump, as described above, cannot be used on deep wells is that certain troubles arise b reason of the stretch in the pump shaft which 39 extends from the pump unit to the surface of the ground. The runners which rotate in the runner chamber formed by the pump. bowls must be placed centrally in the runner chamber so that they will not engage either the upper or lower walls of their respective runner chambers. In shallow wells of the pump shaft is negligible and therefore there is no difliculty from this source; however, in deep wells the stretch ofthe pump shaft would be considerable and p the runners would not be properly positioned in the runner chambers so that proper clearance both above and below existed. In, a deep well of three thousand feet, the stretch of the pump shaft due to its own weight would be about twelve inches. Since the lower end of the pump shaft is restrained from vertical movement by reason of the runners in the runner chambers, the weight of the pump shaft is partially supported by the runners and there is therefore a slack in the pump shaft. It is q uitle obvious that it would be wholly impracticable to operate a pump when such conditions existed.

It is an object of this invention to rovide a deep well turbine pump in which in e u 2|; ners maybe correctly positioned in the runner chambers regardless of the length of the pump shaft.

Another object of this invention is to provide a deep well turbine pump in which the runners are supported by a thrust hearing which is entirely separate from the means which supports the pump shaft.

. The deep well turbine pump of my invention has a runner shaft to which runner shaft the runners are rigidly secured, andwhich extends only through the pump unit. bearing is provided referably at the lower end of the runner shaft for supportingr it. The pump shaft of the invention extends one the upper end of the runner shaft to the surface of'the ground where it is supported by a bearing. The pump shaft and runner shaft are drivably connected together but the connection permits a relative vertical movement between these two shafts. After the pump has been installed in the well, the upper end of the pump shaft may be moved upwardly so that the slack will be removed therefrom, and so that it will be supported wholly by the means'at the upper end of the well. It is essential that the one making the adjustments lll') Ill know when all of the slack is removed from er end of the pump unit while the pump is installed in a well.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be made evident hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings in which my in- I vention is illustrated,

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the upper end of the pump of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the lower end of the pump of my invention, this view showing the parts thereof in correct operating position.

F ig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the parts in position previous to adjusting them into operating position.

P Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 44 of ig. l.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 11 represents a pump unit which is situated at the lower end of a column pipe indicated by the numeral 12 and inside a well casing represented by the numeral 13. The pump unit 11 consists of an upper section 15 and a lower section 16 between which pump bowls 17 are located. These sections and bowls are connected together in a suitable manner, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. The pump unit 11 is secured to the lower end of the column pipe 12 by means of a screw joint as indicated at 18. The upper end of the column pipe 12 (Fig. 1) is secured to a sub-flange 19 which is situated at the top end of the well and which supports a body 20 of a pump head 21.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, the upper section 15 has passages 22 formed therethrough, the upper ends of which connect to the interior of the column pipe 12. The pump bowls 17 have passages 23, the lower ends of which connect to runner chambers 24 formed near the lower parts of each of the bowls 17. The upper ends of the passages 23 of the upper bowl 17 connect to the lower ends of the passages 22 of the upper section 15, and the upper-ends of the passages of the other pump bowl 17 connect to the runner chambers 24. The runner chamber of the lowermost pump bowl 17 is connected by a mouth 25 to a space 26 provided by the bottom member 16. The space 26 is formed by an annular wall 28 having perforations 29 formed therein surrounding the bottom member 16 and extending downwardly therefrom is a screen pipe 30. Oil (or other liquid which may be pumped) in order to enter the pump unit 11 must pass through the screen pipe 30 and through the perforations in the wall 28.

Situated in each runner chamber 24 is a runner 32 having passages 33 formed therethrough. The upper and lower ends of the passages 33 connect with the passages 23 of adjacent pump bowls 17. This is true with the exception of the passages 33 of the lower runner 32, the lower I ends of these passages communicating with the mouth 25 of the lower member 16.

Extending through the pump unit 11 is a runner shaft 36 which is supported by the various bearings of the upper and lower sections 15 and 16 and the pump bowls 17, this being clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The runners 32 are rigidly secured on the pump shaft 36 by keys 37. The lower end of the bottom member 16 is provided in the form of a bearing chamber 38 into which the lower end of the runner shaft 36 is extended. The lower end of the runner shaft 36 is reduced at 40 in order to provide an annular shoulder 41 which is engaged by a thrust plate 42 and which is situated in the bearing chamber 38. A spacer ring 43 is attached to the lower part of the thrust plate 42 by dowel pins 44. A shim plate 45 may be placed between the thrust member 42 and the ring 43 to obtain a proper spacing of these parts, as will be explained hereinafter. The lower part of the spacer ring 43 engages an upper race of a runner shaft supporting bearing 46 which is supported by a bearing support 47 which is secured to the lower end of the lower member 16. This bearing support 47 has a central opening which is provided with a bearing bushing 48 in which the lower part of the reduced end 40 of the shaft 36 is jour- 'naled. The lower end of the bearing chamber 38 is closed by a plate 49 which is secured in place by polts 49a which also secure the bearing support 47 in place. The bearing 46 supports the weight of the runner shaft 36 and the runners 32; and it also takes the hydraulic thrust imposed on the runners while the pump is in operation.

A main bearing 50 is threadedly secured at 51 to the upper end of a hub 52 of the upper section 15. This main bearing 50 surrounds the upper end of the runner shaft 36 and provides a bearing therefor. A tube 53 is threadedly secured at 54 to the main hearing 50. The upper end of the tube 53 has a collar 55 secured thereto which surrounds the lower end of a pump shaft 56 which extends downwardly into the interior of the tube 53. the collar 55 forming a bearing therefor. The upper end of the runner shaft 36 1s provided with grooves 58, as illustrated in Fig. 5. Threadedly secured at 59 to the lower pling member 60 'is provided with splines 63 which extend into the cavity 61, the inner parts thereof being adapted to rest in the grooves 58formed'f at the upper end of the runner shaft 36. Thisconstruction provides a drivin connection between the runner shaft an the pump shaft but'permits relative vertical movement therebetween.

The pump shaft 56 extends upwardly through the column pipe 12 to the surface of the ground, being supported by line bearings 64: as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4. The extreme upper end thereof projects through a stuffing box 65 and through a thrust bearing chamber 66. A. flanged member 67 of 9. flexge iblecoupling 68 surrounds the upper end of the pump shaft 56 and supports this shaft by means-of a thrust nut- 69 which, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1, is threadedly secured at the upper end of the pump shaft 56. The as flanged member 67 provides a spindle portion 7 0 which projects downwardly into the thrust bearing chamber 66. A thrust bearing 71 is situated in the chamber 66 and is adapted to rotatably support the spindle 70. From to Fig. 1 it is a parent that the thrust bearing 71 is provided forthe purpose of supporting the weight of the pump shaft 56.

The pump shaft 56 is driven by a motor 83 which is supported above the body by no means of a frame 84. A. motor shaft 85 ex tends downwardly to a point above the upper end of the pn shaft'56 and is provided with a flanged me her 88 which forms apart of the flexible coupling 68. The flanged members 67 and 88 are drivably connected together in any well known manner so that the motor shaft 85 is drivably connected to the pump shaft 56.

[in opening 90 is formed entirely. through the pump shaft 56preferably concentric with the axis thereof. The lower end of the opening 90 is connected to an obliquely extending passage 91 which connects to the upper end of the cavity 61 of the coupling member 60; The upper end'of the cavity 61 is provided in the form of a valve face 92 which is adapt ed to engage a valve seat 93 formed at the upper end of the runner shaft 36 to form a valve structure. Engagement of the face to Fig. 1 extends into the upper end of the opening 90 in the pump shaft 56. An oil cup 96 is connected to the upper end of the tube 95 above the motor 83. Formed through the runner shaft 36' is an opening 98., the

upper end ofwhich connects to the cavity 92 and the seat 93 is shown in Fig.3. When the bearing chamber 38, the passage 91 being disaligned with the opening '98- when the valve face 92 engages the valve seat 93.

In Figs. 1 and 2, I illustrate the parts of the pump in positions which they will occupy when the pump is adjusted for operation.- In Fig. 3 I represent the ositions of the parts before they have been a justed; As previously explained, in extremely deep wells the stretch of the pump shaft is considerable and will have a great amount of slack therein.

61 and the lower end of which. connects to When all the parts of the pump have been installed with the exception of the motor 83 and the upper flanged member 88 there will be a stretch in the pump shaft 56, and the valve face 92 of the coupling member will be in engagement with the valve seat 93 of the runner shaft 36. It will be seen that for this reason the pump shaft will not be entirely supported from the thrust bearing 71 at the upper end thereof but will be partially supported at the lower end by the runner shaft 36. Before the pump can be set into operation this slack must be removed andthe removal thereof is accomplished in the following manner The adjustment is effected before the motor 83 and the upper flanged member 88 are installed in place. The opening of the pump shaft 56 is filled with a lubricating oil so that the level thereof is at the upper end of the pump shaft. The oil is retained in the open- 1ng90 and passage 91 by reason of the fact that the valve face 92 is at this time in engagement with the valve seat 93, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The thrust nut 69 is then turned by use of a suitable wrench so that the upper end of the pump shaft 56, is advanced upwardly. As this upward movement. of the pump shaft 56 takes place, the weight is gradually transferred to the thrust bearing 71 untilthe entire weight of the pump shaft is carried thereby. This does not occur, however, until all of the slack has been removed lower end of the pump shaft 56 the entire weight thereof is supported by the thrust bearing 71 and at this time the valve face 92 is removed from engagement with the seat 93. The passage 91 is opened and oil contained in the opening 90 will flow therefrom. The person making the adjustment must keep a close watch of the oil level in the upper end.

ofthe opening 96, and when this level falls he will know that the valve structure at the lower end of the pump shaft is open and that at this time the entire weight is carried by the thrust bearing 71 and all of the slack has been removed from the pump shaft. This valve structure, together with the column of oil thereabove, thus forms. a flow means for indicating whenthe pump shaft is entirelysupported from the top of the well, and when the coupling member 60 is raised from supported relationship with the runner shaft. It is desirable to lift the pump shaft an inch or so more so that plenty of clearance will be had; therefore, the one making the adjustments may turn the thrust nut 69 so as to lift the pump shaft this'desired distance. The pump shaft 56 cannot be raised enough to disconnect the coupling member from the upper end of the runner shaft 36 because of the fact that the upper face of the coupling member will engage the lower face of the collar 55. After this adjustment has been made, the pump is ready for operation and the motor 83 and the upper flanged member 88 are installed, as shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 2 the oil flowing from the passage-91 enters the upper end of the opening 98 formed in the runner shaft 36. This oil flows through the opening 98 and flows from the lower end thereof into the bearing chamber 38 at the lower end of the pump unit 11. In this manner lubricating oil is supplied to the bearing chamber 38 to lubricate the runner shaft thrust bearing 46. At different intervals additional lubricating oil may be supplied to the bearing chamber 38 without removing the pump by introducing it through the oil cup 96 situated above the motor 83. The pump is set into operation by energizing the motor 83 which through the interconnecting parts rotates the runners 32.

Theimportant part of the invention is that I provide a runner shaft and a pump shaft having entirely separate supporting means. The manner in which notification of the pump shaft being entirely supported from its upper end is made is also important to the invention. The feature of utilizing the oil which drains from the pump shaft 56 for lubricating the runner sh'aft thrust bearing 46 is also worthy of mention. Vhen the pump is in operation, the thrust bearing 48 at the lower end of the runner shaft 36 supports the weight of the runner shaft and runners and also takes the hydraulic thrust which is imposed on the runners 32. This bearing 46, as noted in Figs. 2 and 3, is placed at the extreme lower end of the pump unit 11 and is in the path of inflowing liquid. This infiowing liquid keeps the oil in the bearing chamber 38 cool and therefore increases its lubricating efficiency. The runners 32 will at all times occupy a proper operating position in the runner chambers 24 by reason of the fact that a separate runner shaft 36 is provided, and this runner shaft 36 is supported by a separate thrust bearing which is situated at the lower end thereof.

Certain of the subject-matter shown in this application is shown and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 124,858, filed July 26, 1926.

I claim as my invention:

1. A turbine pump comprising: a pump unit adapted to be installed in a well; means for supporting said pump unit; a runner situated in a runner chamber of said pump unit; a runner shaft having said runner secured thereto, said runner shaft having an opening therethrough; a runner shaft bearing for supporting said runner shaft, said bearing being in communication with said opening in said runner shaft; a pump shaft drivably secured to said runner shaft but axially movable relative thereto a thrust bearing adapted to support the upper end of said pump shaft; means for raising said pump shaft relative to said thrust bearing; and means for supplying a lubricating medium to said opening when said pump shaft is entirely supported by said thrust bearing.

2. A turbine pump comprising: a pump unit adapted to be installed in a well; means for supporting said pump unit; a runner situated in a runner chamber of said pump unit; a runner shaft having said runner secured thereto, said runner shaft having an opening therethrough; a runner shaft bearing for supporting said runner shaft, said bearing being in communication with said opening in said runner shaft; a coupling member splined to said runner shaft said coupling member having a passage in communication with said runner shaft opening when said coupling member is not seated on said runner shaft; 21 line shaft secured to said coupling member, said line shaft having an opening therethrough communicating with said passage; a thrust hearing at the top of said'line shaft; and means for raising the upper end of said shaft relative to said thrust bearing.

3. A turbine pump comprising: a pump unit adapted to be installed in a well; means for supporting said pump unit; a runner situated in a runner chamber of said pump unit; a runner shaft having said runner secured thereto, said runner shaft having an opening therethrough a runner shaft bea ring for supporting said runner shaft said bearing being in communication with said opening in said runner shaft; a coupling member splined to said runner shaft, said coupling member having a passage in communication with said runner shaft opening when said coupling member is not seated on said runner shaft; a line shaft secured to said coupling member, said line shaft having an opening therethrough communicating with said passage; a thrust bearing at the top of said line shaft; means for raising the upper end of said shaft, relative to said thrust bearing; and a collar mounted above said coupling member. said collar limiting the upward movement of said coupling member.

4. A turbine pump comprising: a pump unit adapted to be installed in a well; a run- 'ner shaft supported in said pum unit; a

runner secure to'said runner aft in a -runner chamber of said pump unit; a porn shaft drivably secured to said runner sha t but vertically movable relative thereto; means for drawing upward on the upper end of said pump shaft; and flow means indicating when the lower end of said pump shaft moves upward relative to said runner shaft.

5. A combination'as defined in claim 4; in which said flow means includes a valve structure which opens when the lower end of'said pump shaft moves upward relative to said runner shaft, the opening of said valve structure causing a drop in level of a column of liquid previously supported by said valve structure.

6. A turbine pump comprising: a pump unit adapted to be installed in a well; a runner shaft supported in said pump unit; .a

runner secured to said runner shaft in a runner chamber of said pump unit; a pump shaft drivably secured to said runner shaft but vertically movable relative thereto;

means for drawin upward on the upper end of said pump shaft, said pump shaft having a liquid-filled longitudinal opening therethrough; and a valve structure supporting the column of liquid in said opening until the lower end of said pump shaft moves relative to said runner shaft. v

7. A turbine pump comprising: a pump unit ada ted to-be installed in a well; a runnor sha supported in said pump unit; a runner secured to said runner shaft in a runner chamber of said pump unit; a pump shaft having an opening therethroughf a coupling member secured to the lower on .of said pump shaft and having a cavity into which saidrunner shaft extends to close a I passage through said couplingrnember conumunicating between said opening and said cavity, there beinga body of liquid in said opening and said raising said pump s to enter said cavity.

8. A combination as defined in claim 'l includinga bearing for supporting said runner shaft, and in which said liquid is in the form of an oil, said oil fiowingthrough an opening in said runner shaft to lubricate said bearing.

9. in a turbine pump, the combination of: a pump section supported in a well; a runner shaft in said pump section, saidrunner shaft providing an opening; a runner on said shaft; a pump shaft operatively connected to-and extending upward from said runner shaft, said pump shaftals o providing an opening; and valve means controlled by the relative positions ofsaid shafts for controlling the passage of fluid from one opening to another.

assage; and means for aft to pert said liquid 10. Ina turbine ump, the combination of. a pairof axially a "good and relatively movable shafts each providin a lon itudinal opening therethrough; an walls efining a passage communicating at one end with said opening of one of said shafts, the other end of said passage providin a mouth against which the end of the other of said shafts abuts when'said shafts are closest to each other, thereby preventing communication between said longitudinal openings when said shafts are moved into a position closest to each other, but permitting communication between said longitudinal openings through said passage when said end of said other of said shafts is moved away from said mouth.

11. ln a turbine pump, the combination of: a pair of axially aligned and relatively movable shafts each providing a longitudinal opening therethrough; and a couplin member fixed to one of said shafts and splined to the other, said coupling member having a passage communicatin with the longitudinal opening in the shaft to which it is secured but being disali ned with the longitudinal opening in the s aft to which it is splined whereby the end of the splined shaft closes said passage when in an inner position relative to said coupling member.

12. in a turbine pump, the combination of: a pump section supported in a well; a pump shaft operatively connected to said pump section and extending upward to the top of said well; means for adjusting the vertical position of the upper end of said pump shaft, thelower end of said shaft belitll ing supported durin the installationof said pump, said shaft being sulhciently long and flexible so that an upward movement of the upper end thereof will not cause a corresponding upward movement of the lower end thereof until the stretch is removed therefrom; walls forming a longitudinal opening through said pump shaft, said opening being filled with a fluid; and valve means operating as a function of the vertical position of the lower end of said pump shaft, said valve means retaining said fluid in said opening during installation and draining said lluid'therefrom when the lower end of said shaft moves upward thereby indicatin that the stretch has been entirely remove from said pump shaft.

l3. ln combination with a turbine pump including a long vertically extending shaft: supporting means for supporting the lower end of said shaft; means for drawing u ltd llli

o said fluid drains thro' said supporting means, said valve means remining said fluid in said opening until said lower end of said shaft moves upward relative to said supporting means, at which time 11 said valve means.

In testimon whereo' I have hereunto set my hand at 40s Angeles, California, this 23d day of August, 1926. 7

JOHN A. 'WINTROATH. 

